Tinker and Drive lead London Film Critics' Circle nominations

'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and 'Drive' lead the nominations for the London Film Critics' Circle Awards.

Both movies have six nominations each, competing in categories including Film of the Year and Actor of the Year for lead stars Ryan Gosling and Gary Oldman.

'We Need To Talk About Kevin' - about the problems a mother has bonding with her troubled son - has received five nominations, while 'Shame' and 'The Artist' both have four nods each.

Jason Solomons, chairman of the London Critics' Circle, said: "I am proud of the breadth, intelligence and style of the choices the London critics have made, honouring the richness of world cinema and the fresh, cool takes on classic movie genres seen in films such as 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', 'Drive and 'The Artist'. "This is the surely classiest set of nominations around this year, with truly superb work reflected in the directing and foreign language categories."

He added 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', about former spy George Smiley who is forced to come out of retirement during the Cold War, was an apt film to receive so many possible accolades.

Jason said: "I'm also thrilled that a London movie such as 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' and the magnetism of its central performance by London icon Gary Oldman has been rightfully recognised with so many nominations across different categories, a reminder of its all-round qualities as a British and international film."

The 32nd annual awards take place on January 19 at the BFI on London's Southbank.